APPENDIX 1 - Neighbourhood Speed Watch

Neighbourhood Speed Watch

Prior to considering an engineered solution to traffic problems, education and enforcement options should be pursued. Education can be achieved, through the use of the Speed Watch equipment from the RCMP. Volunteers from the affected area will contact the RCMP to borrow the Speed Watch equipment, get training in its use and coordinate with the RCMP. If the problem is apparent, as shown by the results from the Speed Watch equipment, the Town will request that the RCMP target the area for speed enforcement.

If these strategies fail to resolve the problem, then residents may apply for an engineering solution, in the form of traffic calming.

Identification

The need for traffic calming is identified. If the request comes from the public, they should provide the following:

• Results of the Speed Watch program, showing that the Speed Watch equipment was used at least once a week over a three week period, with at least two hours of records each week.
• Confirmation from the RCMP that enforcement was used after the three week period of education (use of the Speed Watch equipment).

Evaluation

The results from the Speed Watch program will be analyzed by the Town of View Royal to estimate the 85th percentile speed in the affected area. If the preliminary speeds indicate a greater than 5 Kilometre per hour posted rate then the residents can ask to proceed to Step 3 of the Traffic Calming Process, as set out in the Traffic Calming Guidelines.

The RCMP Speed Watch program is as follows:

• Speed Watched areas are complaint and specific area driven;
• Concerned neighbourhood needs to contact RCMP to implement the program
• Volunteers will be signed up, RCMP interviews for suitability and offers a free Criminal Record Check;
• No enforceability - simply monitoring speed for educating drivers with end goal of increasing awareness to/for chronic speeders and further identifying high risk areas;
• RCMP supplies van, traffic cones, Speed Board and Radar Unit (gun);
• Speed Watch area is non-restrictive to traffic flow(s) and is initially set-up with a Traffic Constable present;
• Volunteers and RCMP remain vigilant and abide by all relevant local government Bylaws that the 'coned off' area may affect;
• Safety is a paramount concern for both volunteers and traffic; and
• Speed Watch is a collaboration between RCMP, ICBC and civil volunteers.